Hydrofoil boat



Sept. 5, 1967 N. A. SKUCE u 3,339,514

HYDROFOIL BOAT Filed Dec. 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NICHOLAS A. SKUCE I EG/640;; 5M

ATTORNEYS p 1967 v N. APSKUCE 11 3,339,514

HYDROFOIL BOAT Filed Dec. 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. NICHOLAS A. SKI/CE I ATTORA/EVS United States Patent 3,339,514 HYDROFOIL BOAT Nicholas A. Skuce II, 16300 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale, Calif. 91706 Filed Dec. 27, 1Q65, Ser. No. 516,282 2 Claims. (Cl. 114-665) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE More particularly, the invention relates to a novel hull design for a boat wherein the bow pod is positioned about A of the way from the bow on the underside thereof. The boat has substantially vertical topsides and concave channels between the topsides and the keel. These channels decrease in depth from the bow pod to the rear of the boat but remain approximately the same width.

This invention relates to an improved small boat of the type known as a hydrofoil and intended for use by a single person. More particularly this invention relates to a hydrokart of improved hull design.

Small boats of the hydrokart type are fast and highly maneuverable. They are equipped with a seat at the rear of the deck for the operator and the engine is generally placed immediately in front of the operator.

It is an object of this invention to provide a hydrofoil of improved hull design which permits increased speed for a given horsepower.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hydrofoil of a hull design which substantially entirely eliminates the tendency of the bow of the boat to drop rapidly or to dip beneath the surface of the water when the power is cut.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, if not specifically set forth, will be apparent in the course of the description which follows.

Generally, this invention comprises a novel hull design for a hydrofoil wherein a bow pod is provided about A of the way from the bow and on the underside of the boat. Further, the hull is so constructed that channels are formed which, when the boat is moving forward, permit a flow of air therethrough which air acts to raise the boat above the surface of the water.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the structure of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view from the bow showing the fashion in which the topsides each drop lower than the underside portions of the hull;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view showing the fashion in which air is forced from the bow to the stern through well defined channels due to the structure of the hull;

FIGURES 5-8 are sectional views taken along the lines 5-5, 6-6, 77 and 8-8 of FIGURE 4.

Refer-ring now to the drawings wherein like characters refer to like parts throughout, there is shown a boat, generally 10, which may be fabricated of molded fiberglass in accordance with standard techniques. Toward the rear of the deck 12 is mounted a seat 14 for the operator together with throttle 16 and stick 18 as well as foot rests 20. In the forward cockpit is an internal combustion engine 22 behind which appears a cowl 24. Propeller 26 and rudder 28 are seen in FIGURE 2.

The entire boat is preferably made of two sections including the aforementioned deck, which can be seen in FIGURE 2 to be convex and a hull portion, generally 30 which is seen in side elevation in FIGURE 2. A flexible rubber or vinyl bumper 32 is preferably provided around the gunwales and the bow and stern which bumper also encloses the riveted joint between the deck and hull 12 and 30 respectively.

The structure of this invention departs from the configurations heretofore used in several respects. Especially important is the provision of integral bow pod 34 which is V-shaped in cross section and which reaches its maximum thickness about A1, of the way from the bow of the boat. The boat reaches its maximum draft in this area when at rest in the Water. See FIGURES 4 and 5. The hull arches concavely from keel 36 toward topsides 38. As a comparison of FIGURES 5 and 6 shows, the pod largely disappears in the area of the propeller and the topsides 38. As seen in FIGURE 3, the concave portions of hull 30 provide channels between keel 36 and the lowermost portions of topsides 38.

FIGURE 4 shows the manner in which air flows beneath the hull as it reaches a speed permitting the boat to plane. Air travels around the pod 34 as the bow rises and is trapped adjacent the propeller and propeller shaft. It will be understood that air is trapped between the water at the stern and the hull as the boat begins to plane because of the fact that the topsides 38 extend well down towards the level of the keel in the area of the cross section of FIGURE 6. The air is trapped adjacent the propeller and propeller shaft. The compressed air creates a lift which permits the hull to skim over the water readily. Eventually the air is exhausted at the stern when the boat is raised sufiiciently and virtually the entire hull skims over the water on a cushion or air.

Besides directing the air inwardly toward the pocket formed adjacent the propeller shaft, the pod adds bouy- 'ancy to the how so that even when the power is cut rapidly and the boat returns to a horizontal plane, the how does not dip beneath the surface of the water as is common with hydrofoils of this type. The air trap aforementioned extends backwardly toward the area of the cross section of FIGURE 7and beyond that, depending upon the speed of the boat.

The boat may be powered by any suitable internal combustion engine; it has been found that hulls of this design move over the water with greater speed than other boats of the same size and weight utilizing engines of similar horsepower. Alternative to the propeller drive, the boat may be driven by an adjustable water jet nozzle which also may be directed to provide means for steering the boat. Longitudinal reinforcements 40 are positioned internally of the deck and hull.

Obviously many modifications and variations of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hydrofoil having a transversely extending planing bow, a stern, deck, and hull, said hull having its point of maximum draft located about A of the distance from the bow of the boat, said hull decreasing in draft thereafter and reaching a point of minimum draft at a point between the point of maximum draft and the stern of the boat, said hull also having generally vertical topsides joining the said deck, the hull having generally horizontal longitudinally extending portions and a keel, said generally horizontal portions thereof extending concavely between the said keel and the said topsides, said topsides at points along their length extend lower than the upper- References Cited most portions of said concave portions of said hull whereby to form channels between said topsides and said keel UNITED STATES PATENTS and the depth of said concavity decreasing gradually 1,898,876 2/ 1933 Heljesson 114-665 from said point of maximum draft to the stern, while 5 2474 667 6/1949 Harvey the width of said channels remains substantially the same between said poinm 3,203,389 8/1965 Cale 114-665 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein a screw propeller I is positioned adjacent the point of minimum draft and a MILTON BUCHLER, 'y Examlllel itllllliilfils positioned ad acent the propeller and to the rear 10 ANDREW H- FARRELL, Examiner- 

1. A HYDROFOIL HAVING A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING PLANING BOW, A STERN, DECK, AND HULL, SAID HULL HAVING ITS POINT OF MAXIMUM DRAFT LOCATED ABOUT 1/4 OF THE DISTANCE FROM THE BOW OF THE BOAT, SAID HULL DECREASING IN DRAFT THEREAFTER AND REACHING A POINT OF MINIMUM DRAFT AT A POINT BETWEEN THE POINT OF MAXIMUM DRAFT AND THE STERN OF THE BOAT, SAID HULL ALSO HAVING GENERALLY VERTICAL TOPSIDES JOINING THE SAID DECK, THE HULL HAVING GENERALLY HORIZONTAL LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTIONS AND A KEEL, SAID GENERALLY HORIZONTAL PORTIONS THEREOF EXTENDING CONCAVELY BETWEEN THE SAID KEEL AND THE SAID TOPSIDES, SAID TOPSIDES AT POINTS ALONG THEIR LENGTH EXTEND LOWER THAN THE UPPERMOST PORTIONS OF SAID CONCAVE PORTIONS OF SAID HULL WHEREBY TO FORM CHANNELS BETWEEN SAID TOPSIDES AND SAID KEEL AND THE DEPTH OF SAID CONCAVITY DECREASING GRADUALLY FROM SAID POINT OF MAXIMUM DRAFT TO THE STERN, WHILE THE WIDTH OF SAID CHANNELS REMAINS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME BETWEEN SAID POINTS. 